The value of preseason games

Doc BearAug 21, 2012 4:00 PM

We have all, at some point or another, probably bemoaned the four (or five, in the case of HOF game participants) preseason games as excessive and pointless. Nick Canepa of the San Diego Union Tribune writes,

They charge real money to watch these phony exhibition games, and Saturday night they couldn’t find enough free-spending Cowboys fans to sell out the joint. So the game was blacked out locally. The nerve of the NFL, the cheek, blacking out this glorified practice. Big deal. It was shown on tape delay as soon as it ended. Did you really need to know the score (Hint: 28-20, Chargers)?

Who can blame him? It’s a refrain that’s heard time and again. It immediately comes up when the league tries to talk about expanding the schedule to 18 regular season games. The usual suggestion is that two of the preseason contests would be changed to regular season affairs.

Season-ticket holders often are the most insulted (assaulted) by the process. They pay good money to hold their seats, with a waiting list of thousands who would instantly grab at the chance to obtain those spots. At the same time, a lot of fans don’t even attend those games, and many who do, leave early. It seems like a massive waste of time and money.

Except when you’re in the position of the Denver Broncos.

The Broncos are putting into place a new offense, one that blends the approach Peyton Manning developed in Indianapolis with the running game and pass patterns that Denver has used successfully in the recent past. It’s the third system they’ll have installed in just over one year, which is pretty tough on both coaches and players. They need all the simulated game time that these contests provide, even though many teams really don’t need more than two games. This is one time that a team does.

Peyton Manning is rightfully a perfectionist, making his living by knowing more about the game than his opponents (and even some coaches), as well as by placing the ball very precisely in the hands of his receivers. To accomplish the development of that skill, he needs as many reps as is rational over the course of the full preseason. Contrary to the way that most of us have some degree of belief that his incredible skill level will give him all the things he needs to be successful in the 2012 season ( I find myself equally guilty at times), Manning is coming off a full year off from the game, changing teams and altering his system of play. It’s not an easy task for anyone - not even someone as naturally talented as Peyton.

In the final games of preseason, the Broncos will pretty much have nailed down what direction they’re going to be taking with regard to Manning and his chosen receivers. It’s likely that they know most of the choices right now. Now he needs to develop the connection between himself and all of those receivers, and that means even more reps under the closest thing to regular season games that he can get - preseason games.

He’s likely to play most of Sunday's game against San Francisco. He needs the reps under game conditions to focus his own rehabilitation and to develop the necessary connection with his receivers; getting down the understanding and timing that cannot be established between them without time, repetition and experience. The timing patterns, in particular, require a tremendous rapport between QB and receivers. The change in the OTAs also works against Denver here, limiting the time that Manning has been permitted to work with his guys. Bill Walsh said that his QBs and receivers used to get together outside of camp and in violation of the league rules even back then, and work incessantly on timing routes.

The situation is the same for the defensive players. Rookies like Derek Wolfe, Malik Jackson, and Danny Trevathan have the physical skills to contribute quickly, but need the experiences of the games they have or will be in to increase the odds that they’ll be used effectively in the regular season. The 2011 rookies are also getting the benefit of a complete offseason program for the first time, and with a sense of the modern game already with them, now they can learn the much deeper aspects of the Broncos’ systems.

Walsh again said that it takes one year to learn the system and one to learn how to play the system. Manning’s a quicker study than most, but it’s still a big task.

So, when the subject of an 18-game season is broached, in addition to the potential injury problems that are rightfully brought up, you might also consider that the preseason system as it stands provides a helpful, even important, and perhaps essential option for teams that are installing new systems, commonly with new coordinators and/or coaches. When it was lacking last season, it affected the careers of talented rookies, players that have benefited from the system in 2012.

Given the importance of depth for Denver to potentially make some noise in the playoffs this season, this is also the first year in many that I've watched every snap and kept an eye out to see who was faltering, who had their hands on their knees, and were blowing hard, shy of the level of conditioning that’s needed for this game and for those like Danny Trevathan and, last year, Chris Harris: late-round or undrafted guys who didn’t find the game too big for them and look like they’ll be able to contribute right away.

This year, the four-game preseason setup benefits the Broncos greatly. Each year, you can find teams in the same dilemma. Maintaining the four-game approach will help them to achieve one of the goals of the league’s front office - parity. From a fan’s standpoint, it’s a chance to see the development (or lack thereof) of a lot of players that you probably won’t be able to see in the regular season. They didn’t show it well against Seattle, but there’s a lot of talent in the second and third units this year.

Go Broncos!

What do you think of the length of the preseason?

Keep it as is

Shorten it, and keep the regular season at 16 games

Shorten it, and make the regular season longer

Learn to laugh at yourself. You will be ceaselessly amused. - Sri Gary Olsen

You can reach Doc at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or follow him on Twitter @alloverfatman

Doc offers a look at the Falcons roster in advance of Denver's Week 2 game in Atlanta tonight

While you make good points on. Needing the time for new schemes and players not wanting to show weakness.

Myself I'd rather see the extra games. My thought being in the future not having coaching thus new scheme every damned year. simply be keeping qualified guys.

Hire the best incentify them and keep them. Funny how the giants pit NE Bal maintain staff as well win.

No major changes in staff Means less issues teaching the 7th change in D in seven years. You then begin just pluging in new players into established corps opposed to getting new groups.

Does this help us yes because of all the changes we have had.

Let's hope we do not need it in the future.

As far as teams that do not to bad for them.

Teams adjust to new challenges the better ones do it faster.

Posted by Lonestar47 on 2012-08-23 02:08:55

ivanthenotsobad Good points. You do lose the ability to work in a new system over 4 games no matter how you structure the 18 game season, and to me that's the biggest selling point on keeping it as is. I'd like to see the preseason games as 'optional' for season ticket owners, but recognize that the owners will let that happen when pigs fly. I don't see the 18 game issue as a beneficial option - even with the caveats given, I think that the owners and coaches will find ways to hedge. We already see players who won't report concussions because they fear for their jobs. An 18 game schedule just begs for being used as leverage to get them back too quickly from injuries and report them less often. I see the current Denver FO as an exception, but the players themselves put huge amounts of pressure on themselves, and many of the coaches I've seen are somewhat less reasonable regarding injury management.

As far as player development, we've always agreed on that. I think that more developmental options, whatever they might be, should be explored. The league killed NFL Europe, which functioned as a developmental league, despite their stated intentions to build the NFL in Europe and to eventually (shudder) put a franchise there. They did so on the basis of it costing $500,000 per team, per annum. If they won't put that kind of costs into development, it's going to be up to each team how much they bother. Good clubs will bother a lot. Bad ones won't.

A simpler option would be to expand the roster to 60 or a few more players and develop them in house, rather than increasing the number of games. Thinking aloud, how many regular season games would I want to have billed on my season ticket in which the starting QB and line wasn't allowed to play? It's the preseason all over, but you've also decreased the ability to put in a new system. Leaving the system currently in place and increasing the roster size permits and eases the route to player D. Just a thought.

Posted by Doc Bear on 2012-08-22 00:00:59

Thanks for the scouting report, Doc! His highlight reel from SDSU is impressive. I saw the report that Peyton was working with him again today on end zone routes; that gives us at least one clue to how they'll use him. Imagine PM in the shotgun with Hillman by his side, play action fake and Hillman one on one with a linebacker in coverage. I like those odds.

BTW, I agree with you completely on Tamme and Stokes. Seems to me that Stokely is pretty firmly entrenched as the third wideout. Not sure if that's a good thing, but that's the way it looks.

Posted by Royalwithcheese on 2012-08-21 22:51:39

Doc,Good article to spur discussion on the value of Pre-season.It seems to me that of the current four pre-season games, two are of primary interest to the projected roster players (2nd & 3rd), and two are of primary interest to those vying for roster spots (1st and 4th). Of course, there are caveats. For instance, the 2nd half of pre-season #2 is devoted to the "vyers", as is also the late part of preseason #3.I'm not suggesting a change in the format. I doubt that it would accomplish much to have the first two games dedicated totally to the "vyers" and the last two to the projected "roster players". The present format allows for some movement, though it is seldom more than episodic.

However, it might be interesting to shorten the preseason to two games and expand the season to 18 games. The currently last two games preseason games, while then counting in the standings, would expectedly be used to expose the ability to develop players, while counting the results in the overall standings. The players would actually play about the same amount of time during the course of the season (it could even be regulated that it be so); the consequences would, however, be somewhat modified. And, it would become apparent that the ability to develop players was crucial to the eventual standing of the team.I've always thought player development should be more highly valued.I'm not presently averse to this scenario.

Posted by ivanthenotsobad on 2012-08-21 21:41:35

@royal: Thanks for bringing him up, rwc. Living in Carlsbad, just north of San Diego, I got to watch Hillman for the past two years, since they broadcast a lot of the Aztecs games around here. He's a heck of a prospect, and I loved his college work. I was happy when Denver got him and I'm glad that he can run again (gotta work back carefully): can't wait to see him get his reps and see how they choose to use him. Surprisingly tough player through the tackles, usually breaks 1-4 tackles per run and can slip outside for long yards. Long torso, powerful legs, never stops churning them until he's totally down. He's going to be a lot of fun to watch. It's true that for the last two days, Manning has been tutoring him in route running - explaining where and why to cut, how to create the right separation at the right time, what the QB is looking for, etc. Today was spent on end zone routes. Hillman is going to add a dimension to the Broncos that they haven't had in quite a while.

btw, Manning also did a private session with Brandon Stokley and Jacob Tamme today (Tues). You're not going to see Tamme drop the first and last passes of a half very often - he's got good hands, and didn't have the drops when he and Peyton were in Indy. Still, it's always good for Manning to work with a couple of guys whose timing he's used to, just to both dial in his throws and to reacquaint himself w/ their movements. I think that we now have a very high probability that Stokes makes the roster, and I think that's a very good thing.

Posted by Doc Bear on 2012-08-21 20:49:47

I remember when there were six pre season games. Before the regular season expanded to 16 games in 1978. Back then, I was living in Los Angeles, so that meant watching tape delays of the Rams with an 11:30 PM kickoff.

Posted by Yahmule on 2012-08-21 19:37:11

Doc, very cogent defense of the preseason. For the Broncos this year, the preseason is incredibly valuable.

Of all the players in your post, the one I'm looking forward to seeing most in action is one not on your list: Ronnie Hillman. He could (could) add another dimension to this offense. That's a big if, though. It was heartening to hear that he was working one-on-one with Peyton the other day (can't remember where I read it). Here's hoping he gets some reps with the first team and displays the big-play, quick-strike ability that's been ascribed to him.

Posted by Royalwithcheese on 2012-08-21 19:08:45

I agree this pre-season hasn't been more important in any past years I can remember, at least to our Broncos. The change from what it was at the beginning of last season, the last half of last season, and now is off the charts. Add to that the coaching staff has not only undergone some changes as well as not having time to work with players last pre-season like they wanted to, and this year's significance is even more evident.

This Sunday's game will be packed I'm sure (damnit...gotta find parking or take the light rail), and it will feel like a regular season game, at least to us Broncos fans.

Posted by John Tomasik on 2012-08-21 17:53:55

My problem with preseason this year is the 90 man player limit. Only a little more than half the players in a game will be active to play in the regular season game. It seems like a lot more garbage players playing garbage time and fans don't really see players winning or losing their competition. I used to think game 2 and 3 were important games to watch but after last week, I'd take out week 2.

Posted by sleepyteak on 2012-08-21 17:30:37

Who besides me remembers when there were six pre-season games?I kind of like watching 4, but 6 was awful.

Posted by bradley on 2012-08-21 17:27:57

Its funny, if you are a "fan" of a crappy or average team - with an average or worse quarterback and have average personnel selection then yes, Pre Season Games are a pain...but if you are NOT...its fun and a whole other story....Im enjoying watching guys vie or reach their potential...plus this season we have new HOF QB, new systems, new coaches and an upgrade in talent...as they shake the bugs out its just fun to see what they might be really able to do when it counts....they need this time now.

Posted by denverkewl on 2012-08-21 17:08:23

I think that the value and length of the preseason (which I support) should always be viewed and discussed separately from charging full price and blacking out preseason games (which I doubt many people support, with the possible exceptions of the NFL/owners).

Posted by GmanS05 on 2012-08-21 16:42:59

Fine piece Doc. I'm with you, this exhibition season in particular benefits the Broncos and in general I think still make sense. Other than sort of cringing and praying and crossing my fingers that there will be no major injuries (and every year there, alas, are), I learn something from these games, too, and it is clearly important for the team's development. I *do* think the NFL needs to make ticket prices for pre-season games much more reasonable because frankly the quality of play is often rather stinky. (As one who watched just a bit of the Raiders-Cowboys MNF game last week I felt even for Raiders fans (!)) Maybe the 3rd game will be the one closer to being worth the price of admission, at least for Broncos fans this year, but in general they are a rip-off.

Now about those temp refs... they obviously need the games to work out the kinks. Maybe they could do that in a Pee-Wee Football League somewhere and let the real ones come back soon. ;) But I digress...

Iget the feeing you're excited to see Trevathan again, so am I. Hope he's feeling good. And besides Peyton playing more the other thing I want to see in game 3 is Hillman, hopefully back on form to contribute this year.